Banding and wrapping machine



Aug. 11, 1936. F. x. MALOCSAY BANDING AND WRAPPING MACHINE '4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 50, 1932 A? r I INVENTOR w ATT NEYS Aug. 11, 1936. F. x. MALOCSAY BANDING AND WRAPPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 30, 1952 1936. F. x. MALOCSAY 2,050,715

BANDING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed April 30, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEMTOR.

FRAjVJS X [1A 1: 0% BY A TTORNEYS.

Aug. 11, 1936.

F. x. MALOCSAY 2,050,715

BANDING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed April 50, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 11, 1936 STATS i resent assignor, by meme-assignments, to Consolidated International Corporation, a corporation of New York Application April 30, 1932, Serial No. 608,378

14 Claims.

This invention relates generally to articlebanding and wrapping machines, and While broadly applicable, is particularly concerned with the banding of cigars and the wrapping of said banded cigars in Cellophane? paper.

It is among theobjects of this invention to provide a banding and wrapping mechanism which will automatically deliver a cigar to a banding and wrapping position and which will secure a band around the cigar and entirely wrap said banded cigar, while the latter is held stationary,

and which will automatically discharge the cigar after it has been banded and wrapped.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cigar banding and wrapping mechanism which will receive a band and wrapper placed one upon the other in a banding and wrapping position, and which will first secure said band around the cigar and then the wrapper without moving the cigar to perform both banding and wrapping operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination banding and wrapping machine which can be easily and quickly adjusted to entirely wrap an article and discharge it without securing a band around said article, or be so adand sizes, and which will be particularly adapted for synchronous cooperation with any of the conventional cigar feeding devices, commonly known as hoppers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a banding and wrapping mechanism in which the entire operation is automatic and does not require human handling of the articles and which thus greatly reduces the amount of manual labor or supervision required.

A further object of this invention is to provide and construct in a single unit, a combined banding and wrapping mechanism; that is, a mechanism which will at a definite predetermined position, perform the dual function of applying a band and a wrapper around a cigar.

Other more specific objects and advantages of the apparatus will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel arrangement and corelaticn of instrumentalities herein fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters are used to describe corresponding parts throughout the several views and then finally pointed out I and specifically defined and indicated in the appended claims.

The disclosure made the basis of exemplifying the presentinventive concept suggests a practical embodiment thereof, but the invention is not to be restricted to the exact details of this disclosure, and the latter therefore is to be understood from an illustrative, rather than a restrictive standpoint. It will be understood that the various features of the invention may be separately applicable despite their cooperation herein shown.

In this specification no detail description of the operation ofthe cigar feed or hopper mechal5 nism will be given, asthis type of mechanism is fully described and illustrated in my Patent No. 1,653,641, dated December 27, 1927, and in my applications, Serial Number 492,437, filed October 31, 1930, on Cigar banding machines, Serial Number 519,347, filed March 2, 1931, on Cigar handling machines, Serial Number 526,788, filed April 1, 1931, on Cigar machines, Serial Number 533,724, filed April 29th, 1931, on Wrapping and banding'ma'chines. 'See'also Serial No. 526,632, filed March 31,1931, on Cigar wrappers.

In the embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed there-is provided a table upon the top of which the cigars are fed from a hopper whichis not shown in the drawings, but which would 30 be located at the left hand side of Fig. 1 or Fig. 12 and operated in a synchronous manner with the banding and wrapping operation. The cigars move with an intermittent movement, the rest periods between the forward movements of the cigars being equal to one complete cycle of the wrapping and banding mechanism. The bands and wrappers are fed into the bandingposition from the rear of the banding and wrapping mech- V anism illustrated. The band and wrapper feed mechanisms are not fully illustrated'in the accompanying drawings or described herein, as they will form a part of another application. The cigars are guided upward between adjustable guides by a plunger. This upward movement causes the band andwrapper to be foldedaround three sides of the cigar with the aid of automatically adjusted side plates. The cigar isheld in this position while the band and wrapper are folded around the fourth side of the cigar. At the completion of this operation, the ends of the folded wrapper which extend beyond the extremities of the cigar are folded and scored in, order to cause the folded portions to spring inward toward the cigar as illustrated-in Figs. 10

The combination banding and wrapping mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings will function in the same manner as described hereinafter whether it is to be utilized. purely asa cigar banding mechanism or a wrapping mechanism. The band and wrapper feed mechanisms, as stated above are driven from a common source, and it is at this point that a simple and effective clutch or transmission is located to transmit the power to these mechanisms By manipulation of this clutch or transmission, the wrapper. feed mechanism can be quickly thrown out of operation and a handed and unwrapped cigar will be ejected, and likewise, by throwing the band feed mechanism out of operation, a wrapped but unbandd cigar will be ejected. With these adjustments in mind, it is readily seenthat should it be so desired, cigars could first be wrapped and then fed through the mechanism a second time to be banded. This method i of operation places the band around the wrapper instead of directly around the cigar. I also wish to state at this time that this mechanism is also applicable to that type, of wrapper for a cigar upon which a facsimile of a band has been printed, said type of wrapper being fullydescribed in my copending application filed Serial No. 526,632. V V i In connection with the features hereinafter specifically pointed out, and in addition to the many unique and improved structural combinations, the invention is also-concerned with the specific-mechanical means by whichthevarieus advantageous functions are achievedrsaid. mechanical means being combined to provide an automatic, simple, inexpensive, ruggedand du-,;

rabl-e apparatus.

The inventive. idea involved-iscapable of re-' ceiving a variety of mechanical expressions', one

of which for. the purpose. of ill ustr'ation is shown in the accompanying drawings in;which-- V 7 Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partlybroken away,-

of my improved banding and. wrapping mechanism elements, with the cigar,'band andwrapperin their respective positions;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectionalview illustrating the Y positions ofcigar, band and. wrapperat the'start of the .bandingandwrapping operation; M v

Fig. 3 is a similar View illustrating the completion of the first banding and wrapping step;

Fig. 4 isanother detail sectional. viewillustrating, the beginningofthe second-. step f the banding operation and shows how. the u'ngi'nnmed.

end. of the band' is folded underthecigar; V

Fig. 5 v isa similar view illustrating the thirdand last step of the banding operation and shows how the gummed end of the bandis folded under' the cigar; I I V Fig. 6 is another detail sectional view illustrating the second step of the wrappingoperation' and shows how the one side of :the wrapper is folded under the cigar;

Fig. 7 is a similar view-illustratingthe startofthe third step of thewrapping operation;

Fig. 8 is a similar view illustrating. theacoin- March 31, 3.

pletion of the third step of the wrapping operation;

Fig. 9 is still another detail sectional view illustrating the position of the parts prior to theejecting of the banded and wrapped cigar; another cigar, band and wrapper having been brought into position for the second cycle of operation;

Fig. 10 is a side View of the completely banded and wrapped cigar; and

Fig. 11 is a bottom view of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is afront elevation, partly broken away of an assembly of the wrapping and banding mechanism and corresponds in general construction to the view shown in Fig. 1 of the copending application, Ser. No. 533,724 for a wrapping and banding machine, above referred to, and which application should be inspected for special details of the mechanism shown.

Fig. 13' is a sectional side view taken on line l3|3 of Fig. 7 which illustrates the position of the upper and lower end folders during the third step of the wrapping operation.

- Fig. 14 is a similar view illustrating the com-- pletion of this end creasing and folding step, after the wrapper has been completely folded, as shown in Fig. 8.

With particular reference to Figs. 1, 9, and 12,. numeral i represents a table upon which my wrapping and banding mechanism is mounted, and upon which the cigars 2 are moved toward said mechanism from a cooperating hopper not shown, but which is also mounted upon the table. The cigars move forward with an intermittent movement from the hopper upon a conveyor; the surface speed of which is slightlygreater than is necessary to feed the cigars up to the banding and wrapping position shown in Fig. 1, and it is because of this slightly greater surface speed that any space between the individual cigars is gradually eliminated, and the cigars kept in close contact with one another as they approach the banding and wrapping mechanism. A slight slippage between the cigars and the conveyor insures their close contact and prevents jamming. The first cigar is brought into contact with the centering plate 3', which protrudes upward through the table and in the path of the cigars as shown in Figs. 1 and 12. This centering plate 3 is linked to the centering plate. 4 at its lower extremities (not shown) in such a manner to insure equal spread of these plates when the plunger 5 pushes the cigar upward between them asillustrated in Fig. 2. The centering plate 4 has the downwardly extending legs 6 to which the plate 3 is linked, and which are far enough apart to allowv the cigars to pass between them. Theoutwardly extending flange I is integral with the plate 4-and;acts as a guide. The centering plates 3 and 4'are provided withthe slots H4 and H5 respectively; which are cut into their top edges directly below the band position. The

purpose of these slots will be more fully described 7 comprising the two feet I2 and the slide plate 12 which is spring pressed and slidably mounted in a guide not shown in the drawings, but which is-fully described in my copending application; filed April 29th, 1931, SerialNo. 533.724.

' Located on either side of the presser plunger are the plates 20 and 48, between which the cigar with its band and wrapper are pushed by the plunger 5. This operation is more fully described hereinafter. The plates 20 and 58 are connected to one another by a combination of connecting links to impart a parallel motion to them, comprising the toggle lever 28 which is oscillated by the push rod 33, connected to the lever 32, keyed together with 28 to a common shaft 35, the connecting links 53 and 26, linked to 28, the connecting rod 35, actuated by the extension 34 of the toggle lever, the connecting arm of the-bell crank t2 and the lever 35. The connecting levers are attached respectively to the side plate 48 and the top of bracket i i, and the connections are such that a parallel movement is imparted to the plates 28 and 53 when the push rod 33 is actuated, as more fully described in my copending application referred to in the foregoing paragraph. Supported on bearing pins in cut-out portions in lower extremities of the plates and 58 are the rollers 23 and i6 respectively. The location of these rollers is directly above the position of the band. Anchored in the slotted hole i5, machined in the bottom of the presser plunger foot 52 are the rolled and sewed ends of the fabric tape 14 and M These tapes pass under the rollers and 15 respectively, and their upper ends, shown in Fig. 12, are hooked on the ends of a pair of coil springs i3 and 13 Slidably mounted in suitable bearings in side frames, (not shown) and opposing one another, are the band and wrapper folder plates 37 and '9? which are caused to operate by mechanical means not shown in the drawings, but which are practically identical with the means for operating a similar pair of band and wrapper folders described and illustrated in my copending application already referred to herein.

Having thus described my invention in detail, I will now describe its operation.

Referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the first cigar has been moved up into contact with the centering plate 3, and upon the plunger 5 by a cooperating feed mechanism and the band and wrapper have been fed into position by cooperating band and wrapper feed mechanisms which are not shown in the drawings. As the cycle of operation starts, the plunger. 5 moves the cigar upward. and as the upper left hand edge of its touches the rounded corner formed by the centering plate 4 and its flange 7, this centering plate t is pushed toward the left. This movement causes the centering plate 3 to move toward the right an equal distance due to their being connected by a parallel movement mechanism. As the plate 3 moves away, the cigar slides toward it due to the pressure exerted against the plate 3, and this action continues until the distance between the two plates is equal to the width of the cigar. This action absolutely centers the cigars and automatically takes care of any variation. .As the plunger 5 continues to move upward, it pushes the top surface of the cigar into contact with the band B, the wrapper 9, the slide plate I? and the presser plunger feet l2= as illustrated in Fig. 2. The continued upward movement of the plunger 5 causes the cigar to force the presser plunger upward. This action firmly grips the wrapper and hand between the plunger feet and the top of the cigar. The rough surface of the fabric tapes 14 and M? secured in the bottom of the presser plunger foot I2 insures againstany possibility of slippage on the part of the wrapper and band due to their smooth surfaces. Thus the wrapper and band will be held in perfect alignment on the cigar as the continued upward movement of the plunger 5 pushes them into the banding and wrapping position illustrated in Fig. 3. During this movement the wrapper and band have been wrapped around three surfaces of the cigar as shown, the side plates 2!] and 48 having forced them downward tightly against the sides of the cigar, with the downwardly extending edges of the wrapper resting against the beveled tops of the centering plates 3 and 4, and the ends of the band extending downward into the slots H 3 and i 95 of the centering plates 3 and 4 as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. It will also benoted that the fabric tapes it and M have also been forced upward with the cigar, band and wrapper. The extra amount of each tape required for this part of the operation was drawn around the rollers 28 and it against the tension of the coil springs to the ends of which they are hooked, as shown in Fig. 12.

With the parts in the position illustrated in Fig. 3, the presser plunger is mechanically gripped, and the side plates 28 and i8 are moved toward one another to create a slightsqueezing action against the sides of the cigar. This squeezing action of the side plates prevents the cigar, with its band and wrapper from being forced downward with the plunger 5 when it starts to return to its normal position as illus-. trated in Fig. 4. When the plunger 5 reaches the position illustrated in Fig. 4, the folder plate 81 moves forward to the position shown. This is the second step of the band folding operation; the forward movement of the folder being just enough to cause the ungummed end of the band to swing out of the slot H5 and upward against the underside of the cigar, and still leave the downwardly extending edge of the wrapper resting against the beveled edge of the centering plate 4. With the folder plate 8W idling in this position, the folder plate 95 moves forward to the position illustrated in Fig. 5. This is the thirdand last step of the band folding operation; the folder plate having swung the moistened gummed end of the band out of the slot H4 and upward against the ungummed end already placed in position by the folder plate 8%. The folder plate 96 now remains idle and the folder plate 8'7 again moves forward until it reaches the position illustrated in Fig. 6, which is the second step of the wrapper folding operation. The movement of the folder having pulled the edge of the wrapper up over the beveled edge of the centering plate t, and pressed it upward under the cigar and over the overlapped ends of the folded band which presses them together and securely seals them. At the completion of this forward movement of the folder plate 87 the folder plate 96 starts to move forward again. This movement pulls the other edge of the wrapper up over the beveled edge of the centering plate 3 and against the underside of the folder plate B'i as illustrated in Fig. '7. When the folder plate 96 reaches this position, the folder plate 871 starts to move backward at the same rate of speed that the folder 96 is moving forward until they reach the position illustrated in Fig. 8. This completes the third step of the wrapper folding operation and it is at this time that the ends iili, see Figs. 10 and l i, of the folded wrapper which extend beyond the ends of the cigar are folded together to make what is known as a bellows fold. The mechanism to accomplish this is fragmentarily indicated in Figs. 13 and 14 and comprises the end folders 98, 98 and 99 and 99 Both sets of folders are symmetrically alike and their support and actuation can best be understood from Fig. 12 which shows one set, viz. 98 and 99 in end views. The top folders 98 and 98 are supported on the rods E90, and the folders 99 and 89 are supported on the rods lfll; all of said rods pass downward through the table I, below which each pair is actuated by its independent cam, not shown in the drawings, but which will actuate them in a synchronous manner with the rest of the mechanism as said cams are a part of the main drive mechanism. These end folders are free to move up and down in slots I02 cut in the plate 48 (see Figs. 12 and 13) and in similarly disposed slots H13 cut in the plate 20. The lower edges of the top folders are beveled and grooved to correspond to a bevel and bead on the top edge of the lowerfolders (see Figs. 13 and 14). When the two folders are brought together they press simultaneously against the top and bottom surfaces of the overreaching ends of the folded wrapper, and as they continue to move toward one another, bringing these surfaces with them, the side surfaces of the wrapper ends collapse inwardly because the side plates 29 and 48 prevent them from bulging outward. This makes what is known as a bellows fold, which is furthermore scored and pinched together by the beveled edges and the beads and grooves in the folders. This pinching and scoring causes the folded ends to spring inward toward the cigar, as illustrated in Fig. 10 when the folders release them. With the completion of the bellows end folding, the ejector finger Hi l has been moved forward and down upon the top of wrapped and banded cigar. This finger moves in between the feet l2 and l2 of the presser plunger.

Referring to Fig. 9 is will be seen that the presser plunger and the side plate 48 have been raised, a new band and wrapper have been brought into position, and another cigar has been moved into position over the plunger 5 which returned to its normal position during operations illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8. The raising of the presser plunger and the side plate allows for the removal of the banded and wrapped cigar when the folder plate 96* and the ejector finger 984 return to their normal positions as illustrated in Fig. 1. When this operation is taking place the reciprocating member I08 (see Fig. 1) is in a forward position and raised above the top of the cigar. As the cigar passes under the prong M9 the reciprocating member is lowered and pulled toward the right. This reciprocating member moves the cigars away from the banding and wrapping position as they are brought out by the folder plate 96- and the ejector finger I04.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described. my invention, but I desire it understood that it is not confined to the particular form shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore, I claim broadly the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalities coming within the scope of the appended claims, and by means of which, objects of my invention are attained and new results accomplished, as it is obvious that the particular embodiments herein shown and described are only some of many that can be employed to attain these objects and accomplish these results.

Having now described my invention, what I 5 claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A cigar wrapping and banding machine, comprising means to move the cigar into an upward stationary position, said upward movement means causing the band and wrapper to be 10 folded around three sides of the cigar, means operable while the cigar is held stationary in this upward position to fold the band and wrapper around the fourth side of the cigar, and means to seal the folded wrapper by bellow- 1 folding the end of the wrapper which extend beyond the extremities of the cigar by a double pinch across the bellowfolded ends.

2. A cigar wrapping and banding machine, comprising means to move the cigar into an up- 20 ward stationary position, said upward movement means causing the band and wrapper to be folded around three sides of the cigar, means operable while the cigar is held stationary in this upward position to fold the band and wrapper around the fourth side of the cigar, means, operative in the same position, to fold and score the ends of the wrapper which extend beyond the extremities of the cigar in order to cause the folded portions to spring inward toward the cigar, and means for discharging the cigar after it has been banded and wrapped.

3. A cigar banding and wrapping machine having a single unit consisting of a pair of cooperatively combined banding and wrapping tools adapted to perform the dual function of sealing a band and holding a wrapper, draped over three sides of a cigar, securely across a fourth side, and means to hold the cigar stationary in one place during these consecutive 40 operations.

4. A cigar banding and Wrapping machine having a single unit consisting of a pair of cooperatively combined banding and wrapping tools adapted to perform the dual function of 45 sealing atband and holding a wrapper, draped over three sides of a cigar, securely across the fourth side, means to hold the cigar stationary in one place throughout these consecutive operations, and conveying means for discharging 50 the cigar on a horizontal plane after it has been banded and wrapped.

5'. A cigar banding and wrapping machine having a single unit consisting of a pair of cooperatively combined banding and wrapping 55 tools adapted to perform the dual function of sealing a band and holding a wrapper, draped over three sides of a'cigar, securely across the fourth side, means to hold the cigar stationary in one place throughout these consecutive op- 60 erations, and conveying means for discharging the cigar in a rectilinear course and with the same side up as they were disposed before the wrapping and banding.

6. In a cigar wrapping and banding machine, 65 holding means adapted to securely hold a band and'a superimposed wrapper draped over three sides of a cigar in a stationary banding and wrapping position, and a coordinated mechanism, adapted to first fold the band across the 7 0 under side of the cigar and then the wrapper, while the cigar is held stationary in one place during these consecutive operations.

7. In a cigar wrapping and banding machine, holding means adapted to securely hold a band and a superimposed wrapper draped over three sides of a cigar in a stationary banding and wrapping position, a coordinated mechanism adapted to first fold the band across the under side of the cigar and then the wrapper, while the cigar is held stationary in one place during these consecutive operations, and means to automatically accommodate said holding means to cigars of various shapes and sizes.

8. A cigar wrapping and banding machine comprising means for elevating the cigar together with an adjacent wrapper into a wrapping and banding position, means for holding the cigar with the depending longitudinal wrapper edges and band ends stationary in said position, after the elevating means has been Withdrawn and a single mechanical operative unit, consisting of a pair of oppositely operating folding blades, adapted to apply both the band ends and the depending wrapper edges successively across the underside of the cigar while the latter is kept stationary during the operation of these blades.

9. A cigar wrapping and banding machine comprising means for elevating the cigar together with an adjacent Wrapper into a wrapping and banding position, means for holding the cigar with the depending longitudinal wrapper edges and band ends stationary in said position, after the elevating means has been withdrawn, a single mechanical operative unit, consisting of a pair of oppositely operating folding blades, adapted to apply both the band ends and the depending Wrapper edges successively across the underside of the cigar while the latter is kept stationary during the operation of these blades. and conveying means, forming an operative part of said folding unit, for discharging the cigar, wrapped and banded, in the same individual position and with the same side up.

10. A cigar moving and banding machine, comprising means to move the cigar, band and wrapper into an upward position, said movement caus ing the band and. wrapper to be folded around three sides of the cigar, a plurality of means, operable in the same position and comprising a pair of horizontally disposed reciprocating wiping blades, adapted for alternating movement of varying length toward each other to successively bend and overlap the downwardly extending ends of the band and wrapper around the fourth side of the cigar, means to discharge the wrapped and banded cigar and means, integral with the folding and discharging means, to hold the folds of the wrapper in place, While discharging the cigar.

11. In a machine of the character described, comprising means to move a cigar together with an adjacent band and superimposed wrapper into an upward banding and wrapping position, said movement causing the band and wrapper to be folded around three sides of the cigar, means, operating in a direction at right angles to the cigar axis, and consisting of a single pair of 0ppositely positioned wiping blades, moving entirely within a horizontal plane and adapted first to fold one of the downwardly extending ends of the band against the fourth side of the cigar; secondly, to fold the other downwardly extending band end against the outer surface of the band in contact with the fourth side of the cigar; thirdly, to fold one end of the wrapper against the band and the fourth side of the cigar; and fourthly, to fold the other end of the wrapper against the wrapper end on the fourth side of the cigar and conveying means for discharging the cigar while every portion of the same describes a rectilinear course.

12. In a machine of the character described, comprising a cigar banding and wrapping mechanism which will receive a band and wrapper placed one upon the other in banding and wrapping position, centering means for automatically aligning the cigar with respect to the banding and wrapping position, and means, comprising a pair of oppositely operable blades, adapted to both first secure the band around the cigar, and then the wrapper, without moving the cigar, to complete both banding and wrapping operations.

13. In a machine of the character described,

comprising a cigar banding and wrapping mechanism which will receive a band and wrapper placed one upon the other in banding and wrapping position, centering means for automatically -aligning the cigar with respect to the banding and wrapping position, means, comprising a pair of oppositely operable blades, adapted to both first secure the band around the cigar, and then the wrapper, without moving the cigar, to complete both banding and wrapping operations, and means, cooperatively connected with the banding and wrapping means, for discharging the banded and wrapped cigar sidewise on a horizontal plane.

14. A wrapping and banding machine, adapted to apply a wrapper of resilient material and a separate comparatively narrow gummed and,

wetted band across an oblong and brittle article at a single station, comprising means to elevate and to fixedly hold said article with the depending longitudinal wrapper edges and band ends in a stationary position, and a coordinate mechanism, L

consisting of a pair of oppositely operating reciprocating wiper blades, moving within the same horizontal plane and adapted to successively bend and overlap the downwardly extending ends of the band and wrapper across the fourth side of said article, while the latter is held stationary during the operations of the blades, thus sealing the band and closing the resilient wrapper.

FRANCIS X. MALOCSAY. 

